Following the purchase of a new property in Abu Dhabi, Erling Haaland can now obtain a 10-year Golden Visa for the UAE in two different ways | Football news

Erling Haaland’s new home in Abu Dhabi puts the Manchester City striker in a position where obtaining a 10-year UAE Golden Visa could be a straightforward step if he chooses to pursue it. Given his status as one of football’s biggest stars, his success on the pitch and his relationship with the Abu Dhabi-backed club, he could also be considered for a Golden Visa with special recognition rather than relying solely on the investment route in the area. Although there has been no official announcement that Haaland has been granted a visa, his profile makes him a favorite for the opportunity. However, he did not publicly express his intention or desire to pursue UAE residency.

Haaland’s new home in Abu Dhabi puts a 10-year visa in place

Haaland announced his property purchase today in a video shared by the developers, revealing that he and his father, former Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland, have bought homes in the Manchester City Ohana project in Abu Dhabi. The development, created in partnership with real estate company Ohana Residences, brings the club’s name to a luxurious waterfront location on Yas Island.“Hello everyone, I’m very happy because I’m joining the Manchester City Ohana project. We’ll be neighbors in Abu Dhabi… I’ve just got a house and my dad,” said Haaland at the project’s launch event at the Etihad Arena.The development offers townhouses, duplexes, and villas with prices starting at over AED 3,600,000 ($1.02 million) for a two-bedroom townhouse. The five-bedroom waterfront villa is expected to cost around $2.91 million, while bespoke units are reported to start at $9.95 million.The project also includes the Manchester City Training Academy, City Lounge, and leisure facilities, while more than half of its master plan is dedicated to green spaces. The exact location and purchase price of Haaland have not been disclosed, but the reported price of the development puts its residences above the AED 2 million ($544,500) UAE’s threshold for property investment.This property naturally opens the door to a longer stay in the UAE, adding another potential benefit to Haaland’s latest investment. Whether the Golden Visa is part of the package or something he chooses to do separately, his new home in Abu Dhabi adds to his growing relationship with the country.

What the UAE Golden Visa offers goes beyond buying a property

The Golden Visa is a long-term residency program in the UAE designed to attract investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, and individuals with exceptional talent. Under the current government system, eligible applicants can obtain a renewable residence permit for 10 years without needing a local sponsor, giving them greater independence from employer-linked programs associated with regular residence permits.This program allows eligible residents to live, work, study and invest in the UAE, while extending living opportunities for their families. Its main advantages include:

This program caters to several different categories, including real estate investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students, and special talents. Each method has its own eligibility rules, which means that applicants do not need to buy expensive real estate to get long-term residency.

How Haaland’s acquisitions would qualify him

Abu Dhabi’s official guidelines for real estate investors set a minimum amount of qualifying assets of AED 2 million ($544,500), with ownership and investment documents required as part of the application. Applicants may include qualifying properties to reach the threshold, while loans through national banks may be accepted when the investor’s eligible capital remains at least AED 2 million ($544,500).The requirements also differentiate between completed properties and off-plan purchases, which is particularly important in recently launched developments such as Manchester City Ohana Residences. For unplanned property, the applicant must provide a purchase agreement from an approved developer and proof that at least AED 2 million ($544,500) has been paid for the property.Although development homes can qualify buyers for a 10-year Golden Visa, Haaland’s exact unit, payment plans and application status have not been disclosed, mainly because the project is still under development.For Haaland, the local investment route is an obvious starting point after his purchase in Abu Dhabi. However, even outside of his new home, the UAE has an established traditional pathway for athletes to obtain a Golden Visa, meaning his success and standing in football could provide an alternative to long-term residency should he wish to pursue it.

The athletes approach can make local investments unnecessary

Abu Dhabi’s Golden Visa program includes a 10-year residency category for athletes under its broad coverage of outstanding talent. The formal process focuses on exceptional sporting ability and achievements, while the application process requires evidence to support the applicant’s standing in their field.An athlete applying through the published Abu Dhabi route must provide:

Applications submitted through the online system of the Abu Dhabi Residents Office are automatically forwarded to the sports council for selection, while applicants can submit through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.However, Haaland may not need to go through the usual nomination process to make a compelling case. As one of the most feared strikers of his generation and a global football star with a larger-than-life profile, his credentials speak for themselves. If he ever wishes to pursue the path of an athlete, his record would be hard to ignore. To put that into context, Haaland can point to his Champions League wins, multiple Premier League Golden Boot awards and standing among the world’s best footballers as proof of his sporting success.Unfortunately, the UAE’s published athlete guidelines do not require an AED 2 million ($544,500) investment limit. Eligible athletes may seek accommodation based on their sporting credentials, subject to review and approval by the appropriate authority.

Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi connection adds another dimension

Haaland’s situation is particularly interesting when Manchester City is connected to Abu Dhabi. The club’s majority owner, Newton Investment and Development LLC, is headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister. Since the takeover of Abu Dhabi in 2008, the City’s relationship with the emirate has grown significantly, and the partnership with Ohana Residences has now brought that connection to the property market.Haaland is no ordinary player in this arrangement. As one of Manchester City’s biggest stars and the face of development that carries the club’s name, he is in a position of huge commercial value. It’s easy to see why his new home could be seen as more than just buying a property, especially given the UAE’s interest in attracting some of the world’s most famous sports and entertainment figures. One can even assume that purchases of this type are accompanied by residential arrangements, although no such package has been publicly confirmed in the Haaland case.Over the years, the UAE has attracted and hosted outstanding athletes, sports figures, actors, scientists and other world-renowned figures, offering long-term residency opportunities to people whose achievements and expertise match their ambitions. Against this background, Haaland will have a compelling case to present. His success in the Champions League, Premier League Golden Boot awards and being one of the most recognized footballers of his generation would make him the best player under the national team.Whether it’s through his Abu Dhabi property or his sporting reputation, Haaland has a solid foundation to explore long-term residency in the UAE if he wishes to do so. His details make a compelling case, although no Golden Visa grant or special arrangement has been publicly announced.